'Relieved' ex-Cahill aide thanks jury after acquittal

Jurors struggling to decide if former state Treasurer Timothy Cahill broke ethics and purchasing laws have acquitted his former top aide of conspiring with him to do so.

By Jack Encarnacao

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jack Encarnacao

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 12, 2012 at 12:06 PM

By Jack Encarnacao

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 12, 2012 at 12:06 PM

BOSTON

» Social News

Jurors struggling to decide if former state Treasurer Timothy Cahill broke ethics and purchasing laws have acquitted his former top aide of conspiring with him to do so.

After a week of deliberations, a Suffolk County jury Tuesday found Scott Campbell not guilty on two counts of conspiring to violate a state law that bars public officials from using their office to gain an unwarranted privilege.

A 41-year-old Quincy native, Campbell worked closely with Cahill throughout his two terms as treasurer and in his 2010 bid for governor.

Campbell’s relatives, including his wife, Julie, welled up with tears after the verdict was read and embraced members of Cahill’s family. Campbell, subdued throughout the trial, was swarmed by inquiring reporters on his way out of the courthouse.

“I’m ready to move on,” he said. “I’m very relieved. Thank you (to) the jury.”

Campbell’s lawyer, Charles Rankin, portrayed his client as little more than a messenger for Cahill during the the run up to, and aftermath of, Cahill’s decision to authorize a $1.5 million Lottery advertising campaign. Prosecutors say the campaign benefited Cahill’s bid for governor more than it did the Lottery.

Campbell still awaits trail in a separate matter relating to the indictment of former state Probation Commissioner John O’Brien of Quincy. In that case, Campbell is charged with conspiring with O’Brien to organize a Cahill fundraiser in exchange for a Lottery job for O’Brien’s wife.

Rankin characterized his client as Cahill’s “flunky,” and said the reason Campbell was copied on communications involving the controversial Lottery ads was because Cahill did not use email. In closing arguments, Rankin said Cahill’s treatment of Campbell at times bordered on abuse.

There have been no signs of ill will between the two, however, and Cahill embraced Campbell and patted him on the back following the verdict.

“I’m happy for Scott,” Cahill said as he exited the courtroom, preparing to return Wednesday to face the jury again.

Following the Campbell verdict, Judge Christine Roach read instructions to jurors that indicate they are deadlocked in their deliberations of the charges against Cahill.

The instructions, referred to in Massachusetts as the “Rodriguez charge,” represent a judge giving jurors one final chance to reach a verdict. If jurors reports again that they are deadlocked, the judge cannot order them to deliberate further, and a hung jury is declared.

If that happens, Attorney General Martha Coakley, who is prosecuting Cahill, would have to decide whether to retry the entire case. Coakley spokesman Brad Puffer declined to comment on that possibility Tuesday, citing ongoing jury deliberations.

Cahill is charged with gaining an unwarranted privilege from the Lottery ads, a crime in Massachusetts as of a 2009 law change, and committing fraud in a government purchase. Both crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison.